Multiple terminal connecter



Jan. 19, 1937. F, A- DOTTERER 2,068,314

MULT IPLE TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed NOV. 18, 1935 Patented Jan. 19, 1937 MULTIPLE TERMINAL CONNECTER Frank A. Dotterer, Logansport, Ind., assignor to R-B-M Manufacturing Company, Logansport. Ind., a corporation o! Indiana l Application November 18, 1935, Serial No. 50,312

7 Claims.

This invention relates to connecting means, and has to do with a multiple terminal connecter for electrically connecting the terminals of a plurality of conductors.

`It is frequently necessary as, for example, in vautomobile terminal blocks, to provide means for connecting together a plurality of conductors. My invention is directed to connecter means particularly suitable for this purpose. It is an object of my invention to provide a terminal connecter which is of simple construction and relatively inexpensive, and which provides means for eitecting connection to a conductor with expedition and facility. It is also an object of my invention to assure adequate electrical contact between the connecter and a terminal member inserted therein, while eliminating possibility of loosening of the connection by vibration or changes of temperature. A further and important object of my invention is to provide a terminal receiving member orconnecter having an opening for reception of a terminal member, and holding means associatedwith the opening in such manner as to be eilective for holding the terminalmember within the receiving member, while permitting insertion or removal of the terminal member by simple endwise movement thereof, the holding member being displaced to permit of insertion or removal of the terminal member by this endwisel movement of `the latter. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description. y

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is an isometric front view, on an enlarged scale, of a terminal connecter embodying my invention secured upon a mounting plate, the latter being shown fragmentarily .and partly broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure l, this view showing the end portion of a conductor and a terminal member applied thereto and inserted into the connecter in operative relation thereto;

Figure 4 is a front view, also on an enlarged scale, of a modified form of connecter embodying my invention, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section, this view showing, in section, a terminal member inserted into the connecter inoperative relation thereto.

The connecter is shown in the drawing on a greatly enlarged scale, for clearness of illustration. In Figure 1 the connecter there illustrated is approximately four times the height and the Width of the actual connecter.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, the connecter includes a iiat plate 5, which is thin relative to its Width. This plate is provided, at its lower end, with an integral arm 6 extending from the plate at right angles thereto. The face of the plate from which arm 6 extends is considered, for'purposes of description, as the front thereof.- Arm 6 is provided, at its forward or outer end, with an integral downwardly directed tongue 1 which engages into a corresponding slot 8 in a mounting block 9 of suitable insulating material. Arm 6 is secured to block 9 in any suitablemanner, as by means of a hollow rivet l passing through the block and the arm. Plate is thus secured to block 9 in desired position thereon and iseiectively held against turning movement relative to the block. It will be understood, of course, that plate 5 is formed of suitable `electrical conducting material, preferably metal, and this plate may be mounted in any suitable or preferred manner other than that shown. A

-' Plate 5 is provided with two circular openings Il disposed adjacent the upper and the lower ends of this plate and each intended for reception of a conductor terminal to be later referred to. A leaf spring I2 is disposed at one edge of the plate, this spring being of approximately U-shape and comprising a bight element I3 from the ends of which extend arms I4 which are curved lengthwise toward each other. The central portion of bight element i3 is curved inward of the spring and is slotted centrally and lengthwise so as to ilt about the edge portion of plate 5. This exposes a short. length of the adjacent edge portion of the plate, which exposed portion is peened over or spread laterally, by means of a suitable tool, to provide ahead element I5 which ts into and overlies the incurved central portion i3a of bight element I3 of the spring, the latter being in contact with the adjacent edge of plate 5 at the ends of the slot in the incurved portion 13a. In this manner, the spring l2 is secured to plate 5 at one edge thereof and is effectively attached thereto so as to be held in proper relation therewith.

Each arm i4 of the spring is provided with a central lengthwise extending slot I6 which receives plate 5, the arms Il being thus disposed about the plate edgewise thereof and the plate being effective forguiding the arms in relative movements of the latter, while also preventing any objectionable lateral looseness or play of the spring. Each of the arms I4 is provided, at the free end thereof, with an integral tab I'I which is disposed substantially horizontally, this tab closing the outer end of slot I6 and providing means for applying pressure to either of the arms, if desired, for moving the latter in desired direction. Ordinarily, however, these tabs are not -used for this purpose, as will be hereinafter explained, and their main function is to unite the elements of arm I4 at the outer end of slot I6 for assuring adequate strength and retractive force of the arm as a whole.

The upper arm I4 intersects the upper opening II adjacent the upper side and chordally thereof. 'Ihe lower arm I4 intersects the lower opening I I adjacent the lower side and chordally thereof. The arms of the spring resist, by their inherent resiliency, relative displacement thereof away from each other, and exert, by their retractive force, pressure upon a terminal member inserted through either of the openings, this pressure being exerted toward the side of the opening remote from the spring arm. Disposing the arms I4 in the manner shown is advantageous in that these arms cooperate with the the plate 5 to best advantage for preventing movement of the spring relative to the plate and toward either the front or the back of the latter, thus eliminating objectionable looseness or play of the spring on the plate.

'Ihe modified form of connecter shown in Figure 4 comprises a plate 5a provided, at the center portion of its lower edge, with a depending neck 5b from which extends an arm 6a provided at its forward end with a depending` tongue la which fits into a corresponding slot in a mounting plate 9a of insulating material. Arm 6a is secured to plate 9a by means of a hollow rivet I0. Plate 5a is provided with two sets or pairs of openings IIa with each pair `oi? which is associated a spring I2a similar to spring I2 of Figure 1. The springs I2a are attached to the lower edge of plate 5a in the same manner as spring I2 of Figure 1 is attached to the side edge of plate 5. The arms I4 of springs I2a intersect the openings IIa of each pair adjacent opposite sides thereof and extend substantially chordally of the openings. This modified form of connecter is suitable for connecting together the terminals of four conductors. Obviously, by varying the number of openings in the plates, and the associated springs, the connecter may be constructed to receive any desired number of terminal members, within reasonable limits. Except for the differences noted, the construction and operation of the connecter shown in Figure 4 are the same as the construction and operation of the connecter shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 3 I have shown a tip or terminal member t intended for use with the connecters of my invention. This terminal member comprises a cylindrical body a provided at its outer end with an outwardly tapering nose element b of frusto-conical shape. Body a is provided, at its inner end, with a base element d of increased diameter connected to the body by a shoulder e extending radially outward from the body. Base element d defines a collar which receives. and protectsl the adjacent end portion of an insulating covering i of a conductor or wire w. This conductor is provided with a multiple strand core c from which the insulation i is removed for a suitable distance from one end of the conductor. This portion of the conductor, from which the insulation has been removed, is inserted through the body a of terminal member t and fits through a corresponding bore in nose element b. The nose element is secured upon the conductor core by being crimped thereon, which assures adequate mechanical attachment of the terminal member to the core of the conductor, and also assures intimate electrical contact between this core and the terminal member.'

Body a of the terminal member is provided with a circumferential groove g and with inclined surfaces or shoulders extending from the opposite sides of this groove. The length of body a, at opposite sides of groove g, preferably corresponds to the width ofthe portions of arm I4 of spring I2, or I2a, as the case may be, at opposite sides of the slot I8 of the arm.

Referring to Figure 3, the terminal member `t is inserted through one of the openings II of plate 5, into the position shown. During the first portion of the insertion of the terminal member, nose element b thereof enters opening I I and the cylindrical portion of body a between the nose element and groove g, contacts arm I4, which extends about the opening II and assists in guiding the terminal member. In the continued insertion of the terminal member, groove g is brought into the plane of plate 5 with the portions of arm I4 at opposlte'sides of slot I6 contacting body abat opposite sides of groove g. The diameter of body a. of the terminal member is the same as the diameter of opening I I, approximately, there being. of course, slight clearance between the opening and the body of the terminal member suillcient to permit of insertion and withdrawal of the latter. During the insertion of the terminal member the arm I4 is displaced outward by contact therewith of body a of the terminal member and is thereby placed under tension such that the arm,

by retractive force, exerts pressure upon the terminal member toward thevother side of the opening. When groove g of the body of the terminal member is brought into the plane of plate 5, the arm I4 of the spring retracts and forces the terminal member toward the other side of opening II by a snap action, thus bringing the bottom wall of groove II into contact with the edge of plate 5 about opening II. In this position of the terminal member, the portions of the arm I4 at' opposite sides o1' slot I8 thereof bear upon body a of the terminal 'member b at opposite sides of groove g thereof, and provide adequate contact surfaces between the connecter and the terminal member. 'I'he plate 5 is relatively thin, as above stated, and has edge contact with the bottom of groove g. This provides pressure edge contact between the terminal member and the connecter and, since the edge of the plate at opening II, due to the fact that it is quite thin or narrow, readily cuts through any coating upon the bottom wall oi' the groove, such as would be caused by corrosion or oxidation, assures clean contact surfaces at these points.

It will be understood that the connecter is adapted for reception of two, four, or more terminal members which may be inserted endwise through the plate 5 or5a, as the case may be, from either side thereof. The inclined surfaces or shoulders at each side of the groove a permit of removal of the terminal member from the connecter by either pulling the terminal member in proper direction by means of the attached conductor, or by exerting pressure upon the outer end of the nose' element d toward the 'plate. If desired, the arm Il may be displaced `outward by pressure exerted upon element l1 objectionable endwise movement relative to plate 5, or 5a, and the spring arm llcoaets with the opposite wall of opening Il to prevent radial looseness or play of the terminal member. In this manner, the terminal member is effectively secured in the connecter so as to be held against objectionable looseness or play, and may be inserted into and removed from the connecter with expedition and facility.

1. In terminal connecting means of the cha acter described, a fiat plate having two spaced openings therethrough, and an approximately U-shaped leaf spring having its bight portion attached to an edge of said plate, the arms of said spring being slotted, fitting about said plate edgewise thereof and intersecting the respective openings adjacent one side and substantially chordally thereof.

2. In terminal connecting means of the character described, a hat plate having two spaced openings therethrough, and an approximately U-shaped leaf spring having its bight portion at- Y tached to an edge of said plate, the' arms of said spring being slotted, iltting about said plate -edgewise thereof and intersecting said openings adjacent the outer sides and substantially chordally thereof, said arms resisting by their inherent resiliency relative displacement thereof away from each other.

3. In terminal connecting means of the character described, a flat plate having two spaced openings therethrough, and an approximately U-shaped leaf spring having its bight portion attached to an edge of said plate, the arms of said spring each having a lengthwise slot therein terminating short of the free end thereof, said arms fitting about said plate edgewise thereof and intersecting said openings adjacent the outer sides and substantially chordally thereof, said -arms being bent lengthwise toward each other and resisting by their retractive force relative displacement thereof away from each other.

4. In, terminal connecting means of the character described, a flat plate having two spaced openings therethrough, and an approximately U-shaped leaf spring having its arms slotted and fitting about said plate edgewise thereof and intersecting said openings adjacent the outer sides thereof, the bight elementof said spring having its central portion slotted and bent inward of the plate to expose a length of the adjacent edge portion thereof, said exposed edge portion being spread and overlapping said central portion i thereby securing said spring to said edge of saidl plate.

5. A terminal connecter comprising, in combination, a flat plate having a pair of adjacent openings therethrough for receiving terminal members, and a substantially U-shaped leaf spring member surrounding said flat plate at each end and so arranged and constructed as to bias said terminal members toward the adjacent sides of said openings on insertion therein.

6. A terminal connecter comprising, in cornbination, a fiat plate having a pair of adjacent openings therethrough for receiving terminal members, a substantially U-shaped leaf spring member surrounding said flat plate at each end and so arranged and constructed as to bias said terminal members toward the adjacent sides of said openings on insertion therein, and means for securing the bight of said spring member tov one edge of said fiat plate.

7. A terminal connecter comprising, in combination, a ilat plate having a pair of adjacent openings therethrough for receiving terminal members, and a substantially U-shaped leaf spring member surrounding said flat plate at each end and so arranged and constructed as to bias said terminal members toward the adjacent sides of said openings on insertion therein, the blght of said spring member being turned inwardly and slotted to expose a portion of the edge of said plate, said exposed portion being peened to overlap the slot in said bight.

FRANK A. DOTIERER.. 

